David Byrd
Classic Theatre and Rock & Roll Drawings from the 60s and 70s
David Byrd created some of the most memorable Classic Theatre and Rock and Roll images from the 1960s and 70s. This is the first time that these rare original one of a kind drawings have been available for sale since they were first created over 30 years ago. These drawings are the actual drawings that were presented for approval of the final artwork. David created ALL of the Art for Bill Graham’s Fillmore East, including their Program covers and Rock posters, the art for Jimi Hendrix’s first Fillmore East appearance, The Rolling Stones 1969 World Tour art, The Who’s Performance of Tommy at the New York Metropolitan Opera House and The Fillmore, and The Grateful Dead Swell Dance Concert to name only a few. He also created the poster art for the original location of the 1969 Woodstock music festival . His memorable images were also used for classic Broadway shows like Godspell, Follies and Jesus Christ Superstar to mention only a few. These museum quality drawings are rarely made available for sale, they are not only wonderful rare works of art, but are truly historically important works in the field of Theatre and Rock and Roll collecting. All drawings have been framed with archival double matting. Again, this is the first time that you can actually purchase one of the original sketches that were created for these historical images.
We will indicate as soon as possible that a drawing is sold on this website. They are selling at a fast pace and we suggest that you purchase your favorite as soon as possible, as to avoid disappointment because of a previous sale. These are unique one of a kind drawings and once a particular drawing sells, there are no others that are available.
All of these extremely rare drawings are signed and dated and are the original presentation drawings that were created by David Byrd for the approval of the final poster or program cover artwork. David's poster art is in many museum collections, including : The Louvre, in Paris, Victoria & Albert in London, The Museum of Modern Art in New York and The Smithsonian in Washington, DC.
Click on the small images to see an enlarged view.
Hendrix
SOLD SOLD
NFS Original 1969 drawing for Hendrix Press Kit and Tour
You have probably heard that Jimi was so impressed with the art David created for his first appearance at the Fillmore East. That he asked David to create the art for his press kit, which Jimi later used for his Spring 1969 concert tour. This is the actual drawing that was given to Jimi to approve that artwork.
* See bottom of Page for signed and numbered limited edition archival print
Fillmore East
Program cover 1969, original drawing, framed 22x18" SOLD NFS
Program cover 1971, original drawing, framed 22x17"
* See bottom of Page for signed and numbered limited edition archival print
The Who
David recalled that Bill Graham called him to say that he had booked The Who to perform their rock opera, TOMMY, at the Metropolitan Opera, where no Pop act had ever performed. David had only three days to create a poster for their historic performance. For the centerpiece art, he created a Busby Berkley Pinball look surrounded by his famous Deco borders. (He even refers to that in a note he wrote on the centerpiece drawing)
Tommy Figure, original drawing, framed 21x16" Tommy poster center piece, original drawing, framed 17x17"
SOLD Tommy full poster sketch, original drawing, framed 22x18" Tommy rare concept sketch, original drawing, framed 22x19"
Tommy Fillmore East, original drawing, framed 20x19 Tommy Pinball Lady, original drawing, framed 20x16
Tommy Acid Queen 1970 Grammy award for art framed 22x19"
The Grateful Dead
SOLD
Swell Dance figures, original drawing, framed 22x24
SOLD
Rolling Stones
1969 World Tour original concept drawing, framed 24x20
1969 Stones World Tour "Naked Lady", original drawing with original poster, framed 30x40"
Kiss Woodstock
Ace Frehley puzzle 1978, original drawing, framed 24x22" SOLD 1969 original Woodstock location, drawing, framed 18x14"
A note about the WOODSTOCK Drawing: In the spring of 1969, Woodstock Ventures asked David to create a poster for a large outdoor concert they were planning in WallKill, New York to be called Woodstock. After the poster was printed, the town of Wallkill had the permit for the concert revoked and it was moved to the town of White Lake on Max Yasgurs farm. Making any printed material on the Wallkill location very rare. The original poster by David became a very hard to fine collectors item. This original drawing for the approval of that rare poster is an incredible find.
* See bottom of Page for signed and numbered limited edition archival print
Beacon Theatre 1974 Concert logo
NFS Original presentation drawing for Concert series at The Beacon Theatre in NY
Godspell
SOLD
Jesus Christ Superstar
Original concept drawing with detail notations, framed with original poster 38x24
Follies
Drawing 1 is an Elegant full figure version of the famous Follies image. In this 1970 drawing #1 the figure holds a cracked mirror which forms the "O" in Follies, and shows the look of the final version with the crack running through the face. A wonderful drawing
Drawing 2 is another beautiful 1970 full figure version of the famous Follies image. The Art Deco detail in this elegant drawing is rendered beautifully.
Drawing 1 Drawing 2
Concept drawing 1, framed 28x22" Concept drawing 2, framed 28x22"
First version Head sketch
Head concept with notations, original drawing, framed 16x14" 1970 Very first version of the famous Final Follies Head concept. With many notations written by David Byrd, including one that refers to the image being based on Marlene (Dietrich) in Shanghai Express, which has been suggested by some art historians, but it is here that David has actually confirmed that fact. A wonderful historically important small sketch.
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City 1974 Deco Expo, original drawing, framed 26x22
Billie Holiday
Billie and Prez, original drawing, framed 24x21"
Casablanca Records
Casablanca Records logo concept, original drawing, framed 21x21"
SIGNED and NUMBERED LIMITED EDITION IMAGES:
Jimi Hendrix first Fillmore East appearance
Signed and Numbered by artist David Byrd, this is a limited edition of only 200 printed with archival inks on watercolor paper. Printed directly from David Byrd's two original drawings for Jimi's very first Fillmore East appearance.
Fillmore East Program Covers
Signed and Numbered by artist David Byrd, this is a limited edition of only 200 printed with archival inks on watercolor paper. All three years of the Fillmore East programs are together in one work of art. Printed directly from David Byrd's original drawings for the Fillmore East program covers.
Original Woodstock 1969 Art
Signed and Numbered by artist David Byrd, this is a limited edition of only 200 printed with archival inks on watercolor paper. Printed directly from David Byrd's original drawing for the first location of the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
Please call 631-726-2523 or e-mail ARDT3@aol.com for prices and availability
other artists represented:
Ceravolo Charles Ford Robin Morris Robert Roesch Documents Home